Fruit gatherer



R. E. MARTIN FRUIT GATHERER June 1s, 1946.

5 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Feb. 13, 1945 WWW 5M ms R. E- MARTIN FRUITm GATHERER June 18, 1946.

Filea Feb. 15, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Aorneys June 18, 1946. R. E. MAjRTlN 2,402,201

FRUIT GATHERER Filed Feb. 15, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A.' i /S.

2 4; ?g 7] Inventor I verlf Marfz'ra @L By w At-tomeqs June 18,v 1946 R. E; MRTIN j FRUIT GATHERER Filed Feb. `13. 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I v ntor @wwf/gg@ June 18, 1946.

Filed Feb. l5, 1945 R. E. MARTN FRUIT GATHERER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q Eaer? E Mari@ y By )@Mw@ www Patented June 18, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE FRIT GATHRR Robert E. Martin, San Jose,V Calif. Application February 13, 1943, senat 475-',847

(C1. SG1-3287 9 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in means for gathering and picking up fruits and nuts which have fallen on the' ground, and grading the picked up objects according to size, and an important object of my invention is to provide a simple and eicient arrangement of this character which can be provided in simple and low cost construction, and is operable with a minimum of elort and expense.

Another important object of my invention is to provide in an arrangement of thev character indicated above, improved arrangements of pick up devices, whereby the fruits or nuts or' the' like are gathered and picked up from the ground and elevated to a desired height with greater elnciency and with less danger of damaging the fruit, nuts or the like.

Other important' objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the drawings', wherein for purposes of illustration I have shovvn preferred embodiments of my invention;

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a general side elevational view of the preferred embodiment showing the receiver in normal inoperative position to deposit the graded fruit or nuts in the removable receptacle.

Figure 2" is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure' 3V is a right hand end elevational view of Figure 1.

vFigure 4 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of one of the rear terminals ofthe pick up unit supports and showing the connection thereof to a stationary member on the main frame.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the receiver.

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken through one of the endless belts of the' pick up unit shown in Figure l.

Figure '7 isa sectional elevational schematic view of a modified form" of pick up unit.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational View showing a modification of the invention.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top` plan view showing the modified portion of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the nu-y mer'al 5 generally designates the pick up unit of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures l through 6, the said pick up unit` compr-ising a p'air of substantially" parallel vertically arranged and transversely aligned support elements 6, a second similarly arranged pair of support elements 1, theVV upper.rv and` lower' ends of the various support elements'u being providedwith bearings 8- in the` case of4 ther support' elements 2 sf and si in the. case of the' support elements 1" to rotatably support-horizontal shafts I0 and I I, respectively, on which theupier rollers I2 and I3, and the lower* rollers I4 and I5, are supported. The companion verticalkeleinents 6 and 'l on opposite sides of the device are spaced and connected by reclining V-shaped frames I6Y which are attached' to the outer sides of the elements 6 an'd l as indicated Figures' 1 and 2. Also attacled' toI the' legs' of the V-shaped frames are ternes I1 and' I9, respectively', which extend ver-V tically substantially between the upper and lower rollers of each .set and substantially entirely across between the frar'n'es I6 to' acti as means to be engaged by ne corresponding nightsof the related endle'ssb'eltsl I9 and 20.

The junction of the'leg's' o f theV-shaped frames IE terminate in a lug 21 which is cut away at its top' to receive ther` replaceable member 22 which is' ordinarilylocked in place'by means of the bolt 23", the upper surface of the cut away portion having a hemispherical concavity 24 and the lower s'ide of the removable member 22 having a substantially matching concavity 25 whereby` a ball socketis provided to' receive and removably hold theba-ll2 ZG- on thef forwardly extending hori-V zon-tal portion' 2T of the* laterally extending arm 28 wlfii'clrv fixed on the intermediate vertical member 29 on each side ofthe main frame which is generali-'y'designatedL 3U, whereby the pick up unit 5 is supportably connected to the main frame 3l)lr and at the' sar'n'e time permittedA relative up and downl motion to" enable the pick up unit to conform to the contour' ofthe ground over which' the gatherer operated' for gathering fruits or mutsen@ the like. I V The main fra-me coinprises`,`besides the intermediate vertical members 292 sides made up of the upper aidlovveif longitudinal members 3l and 32 joinedl at their forwardends by` the front vertical member' 33, witlr the upper and lower ends of the members 29 connected respectively with thev upper and' lower longitudinal members 3 I and 32, transversemembers 33' and 34- extending between th@ pairs of upper andr lower longitudinal merri-n bers-atthe-Junction points of the' vertical members and 33` as slnade evidelit` in Figure 2 ofl thev drawings.Y

As indicated in Figure 2y of the drawings' the lower longitudinal side members 32A are' deformed laterally inwardly to provide substantially J-shaped portions 35 and 36", respectively, which have bearings 31 and -38,- resp'ectively', mounted thereuponand' journalling the axle 39 on which the' pneumatic? tired groun'd engaging wheel Ml` is mounted. The rear terminals of the portions 35 and 36 are spaced and connected by a transverse member 4 I and from these rear ends of these portions rise rods 42 and 43, respectively, which pass through and are connected with the rear terminals of the upper longitudinal side members 3i which, as shown in Figure 2, converge rearwardly and have connected therebetween the handle bar d4 for use by the operator of the device in guiding the same over the ground.

Rigidly fixed lugs 45 on the opposite vertical members 33 of the main frame are traversed by bolts 45 which also traverse the rigid lug 4l' on one of the arms of the V-shaped frames I6 of the pick up unit. An expanding spring 48 is inter-V posed between the said lugs and circumposed on the bolt 46 so that elevation oi. the pick up unit is yieldably resisted by the spring 44' and the unit urged toward conforming engagement with the surface of the ground Adjusting wing nuts e9 and 55 are threaded on the upper and lower ends of the said bolt to provide for adjustment of the tension of the spring and of the initial angularity of the pick up unit relative to the horizontal. The portion of the longitudinal side members 32 forwardly of the inwardly directed portions 35 and 35 provide support for a removable' box or receptacle 5I which as shown in Figure l is positioned just to the rear of the vertical members 29. Forward portions of the said lower longitudinal side members 32 have bearings 52 secured thereupon to journal the axle 53 on which the laterally spaced pneumatic tired ground engaging wheels 54 are mounted with ratchet connections 55 arranged to connect the ground engaging wheels 54 and the axle 53 against relative rotation in one direction while permitting relative rotation in the opposite direction. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide for diiferential action of the-ground engagingwheels 54 to facilitate turning the gatherer.' A sprocket wheel 55 is fixed'on an intermediate part of thek axle 53 and over this id trained a sprocket chain 56 which is trained over the'sprccket wheel V5'I on the motor shaft 58 of the internal combustion or other suitable rtype of engine 55 which is mounted on cross members G extending between the upper transverse cross members 33 and 34 of the main frame 3i! as clearly shown in Figure 2. An additional cross member I has a bearing 62 supporting an intermediate part of the shaft 58 which has on its laterally outward end a sprocket 63 which has trained thereon a sprocket chain 64 which is also trained on the sprocket 65 on the shaft of the upper roller I3, whereby the upper roller and the axle 53 and consequently the ground engaging wheels 55 aredriven at a coordinated rate of speed for producing simultaneous forward travel of the gatherer over the ground accompanied by operation of the pick up unit as a consequence of rotation of the roller I3.

- At the side of the pick up unit opposite the sprocket chain 64 the upper rollers I2 and I3 are provided Vwith pulleys 66 and 61, respectively, over which is trained a reversed belt 68 which produces rotation of these rollers in opposite directions.

rihe rollers I2 and Ill are spaced at a greater distance relative to each other than the upper and lower rollers I3 and i5, and the lower roller I4 approaches the ground more closely than does the lowerroller l5, and the upper roller I2 rises above the upper roller I3. AAs a consequence, the endless belt I9 on the rollers I2 and I4 engages theground GS in advance of the belt 2i) and maintains substantially constant contact with the ground whereas the lower part of th'e belt 20 is substantially cons-tantly elevated above or at least in imperfect contact with the ground 69. The belt I9 travels in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Figure 1, while the endless belt 2) travels in a clockwise direction.

Each of the said belts is composed of a thick sponge rubber endless body or loop reinforced at its inner side so as to be non-stretchable. As the gatherer moves over the ground 69 with the lower end or" the forward belt I9 contacting the ground, and prunes or nuts or other such fruit being encountered by the forward belt I9, the said nuts or the like are moved outwardly to the rear land into contact with the lower end of the rear belt 2s, so that the nuts or the like 'I5 are carried upwardly between the opposed flights of the belts I5 and 25 as clearly indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, with opposite sides of the nuts or the like embedded in the soft sponge rubber or other similarly suitable material of the belts whereby to be non-injuriously but firmly held and elevated. The tables Il and I8 mentioned hereinabove, prevent the opposed flights of the belts from being pushed out of effective operative positions by large nuts or the like. The upper end of the rear belt 20 being depressed below the upper end of the forward belt I9, and with the belts traveling in the directions stated, the tendency of the nuts or the like 'lil is, upon reaching the upper end of the belt 20 to be thrown or carried rearwardly by the upper part of the belt and moved onto the declining receiving table 'l5 which is supported below the upper cross member 33 of the main frame and empty into the grader tray which is generally designated 'I2 and which is provided with grading partitions 'I3 arranged longitudinally of the main frame, the tray being suspended on depending swingable links 'I4 whereby the tray may be manually agitated to assist in the grading of the fruit, nuts or the like deposited thereon from the receiving table ll.

Pivotally supported on the underside of the rearward part of the grading tray 'I2 is the segmental crcss section receiver which is generally designated l5 and which' has pivot lugs I6 and 'Il projecting from opposite ends thereof and aligned with the meeting point of the straight sides of the receiver, the lug 16 being provided with a rigidly connecting lever 'I8 whereby the receiver is normally gravitationally over-balanced so as to occupy the out-of-the-way position shown in Figure l of the drawings during normal operation of the device.

When it is desired to change receptacles 5I and Y in sodoing to prevent the contents of the grading tray from falling onto the ground, thekhandle i8 may be swung upwardly bythe operator of the device so as to bring the opening i9 of the n receiver into position under the discharge end of the tray l2 and accept the nuts or the like discharged from the tray, during the interim when the box or receptacle 5i is being changed.

As shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, the endless belts `such as the endless belt I9 used forillustration, is formed of a relatively thick body of sponge rubber designated by the numerall, the said body being lined on its inner side with a non-stretchable ply which prevents the soft sponge rubber from spreading and stretching and impairing the mechanical efliciency of the belts and the upper and lower rollers.

Referring now to the modified form of pick-up unit shown in Figure 7,1this involves 'substitution amasar for the endless belts of sponge rubber of the sponge rubber rollers Ita and a, respectively, the rear rollers 2da' being: elevated so astobe normally in imperfectl engagement with the ground Gita or elevated thereabove. In this case, a curved deiiector or baiiie E lis provided over the space' between the rollers to guide the nuts or the likepiclced up by the rollers and elevated therebetween to follow a course over the top of the rear roller 2te and become deposited onthe receiving board or table 70a upon which the gathered nuts or the like fall into the trough' 83V into which extends the lower end of a vertically arranged endless conveyorild which is supported onupper and lower rollers ld and Ma, scoops 85 being distributed along the conveyor to properly lift the gathered nuts or the like tordischarge onto the receiving table l la corresponding to the receiving table 'll in the first described embodiment.

Inorder to gather fruits, nuts and other items over a path wider than the machine, a modiication of the structure herein described is proposed and clearly shown in Figures 8 and 9. In this connection, each side of they frame has a forwardly projecting supplemental frame A suitably secured in place and provided with stub shafts for accommodating ground engageable wheels v95. A shaft ida, which corresponds to the shaft l0 in Figure 1 has a bevel gear 9b thereon, at each end thereof for meshing engagement with beveled gears El on shafts Sii, each shaft Q3 having suitably secured thereon a cushion roll 89 madeipreferably of sponge rubber. Bearing members i and Eli depend from obliquely disposed eXtensions m2 of each auxiliary frame A, for the purpose of supporting the corresponding shaft 98 and the corresponding roll S9 just above the ground level.

Thus it can be seen, that with the rolls $39 diverging from the forward portion of the machine, a wider path can be cleared than with the webs disclosed in Figure l.

While the foregoing specification sets iorth the invention in specie terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resortedto without `departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A gatherer for nuts or the like lying on the ground, said gatherer comprising a main frame having ground engaging wheels, and a pick up unit connected to the forward part of said main frame, a motor mounted on said main frame in driving relation to some of said wheels, said pick up unit comprising gathering and elevating elements having rotary operating members in driven relation to said motor, said gathering elements including two vertically-coacting members, said gathering and elevating elements comprising endless compressible material belts having iiight portions thereof arranged in parallelism, said belts being trained over said rotary operating members and depending for close approach to the ground, said belts being moved in opposite directions to feed the nuts from the ground to be held and elevated between said ili'ght portions of the belts, and means for receiving the elevated nuts or the like as they roll off the upper end of one of said belts.

2. A gatherer for nuts or the like lying on the ground, said gatherer comprising a main frame having ground engaging wheels, and a pick up 6 unltconnected to the forward part of said main frame, a motor mountedon said main frame in driving relation to some of said wheels, said pickV up unitcomprislng gathering and elevating elements' having rotary operating members in driven relation tosaid motor, said gathering elements including two vertlcally-coacting members,` said gathering and elevating elements comprising endless compressible material belts having flight portions thereof arranged in-` parallelism, said belts having ground engaging wheels, and a pick upy unit connected to the forward part of said main frame, a motor mountedv on said main frame in driving relation to some of said wheels, said pick up unit comprising gathering and elevating elements having rotary operating members in driven relation to said motor, said gathering elements including two vertically-coacting members, said gathering and elevating elements comprising endless compressible material belts having flight portions thereof arranged in parallelism, said belts being trained over said rotary operating members and depending for close approach to the ground, said belts being moved in opposite directions to feed. the nuts from the ground to be held. andv elevated between said night portions of the belts, and means for receiving the elevated nuts or the like as they roll off the upper end 'of one of said belts, said receiving means comprising a table and a grading tray into which said table empties, and a receptacle removably supported on said main frame to receive the graded nuts or the likeV from said grader.

4. A pick up unit for gatherer of theV char. acter described, said pick up unit comprising a forward set of transversely aligned upper. and lower` substantially horizontal rollers,` a rearward set of transversely aligned upper and lower sub,- stantially horizontal rollers, means connecting the upper rollers of the setsV for rotation in opposite directions,` a first compressible endless belt trained over the upper and lower rollers of the first set, a second compressible endless belt trained over the upper and lower rollers of the second set, with one vertical flight thereof closely spaced relative to the adjacent vertical flight of the first belt, the lower end of said first belt being arranged to engage the ground in front of said second belt to move the nuts toward and into engagement with the lower end of the second belt whereby the nuts are deposited between and carried upwardly by and between said vertical flights.

5. A pick up unit for gatherer of the character described, said pick up unit comprising a forward set of transversely aligned upper and lower substantially horizontal rollers, a rearward set of transversely aligned upper and lower substantially horizontal rollers, means connecting the upper rollers of the sets for rotation in opposite directions, a rst compressible endless belt trained over the upper and lower rollers of the first set, a second compressible endless belt trained over the upper and lower rollers of the second set, with one vertical night thereof closely spaced relative to the adjacent Vertical ight of the rst belt, the lower end of said first belt being arranged to engage the ground in front of said second belt to move the nuts toward and into engagement with the lower end of the second belt wheereby the nuts are deposited between and carried upwardly by and between said vertical flights, the lower end of said second belt being normally closely spaced above the ground and having its upper end depressed below the upper end of the rst belt to provide for rearward movement of the elevated nuts over the upper end of said second belt.

6. A pick up unit for gatherer of the character described, said pick up unit comprising a forward set of transversely aligned upper and lower substantially horizontal rollers, a rearward set of transversely aligned upper and lower substantially horizontal rollers, means connecting the upper rollers of the sets for rotation in opposite directions, a first compressible endless belt trained over the upper and lower rollers of the first set, a second compressible endless belt trained over the upper and lower rollers of the second set, with one vertical night thereof closely spaced relative to the adjacent vertical ight of the first belt, the lower end of said first belt being arranged to engage the ground in front of said second belt to move the nuts toward and into engagement with the lower end of the Second belt whereby the nuts are deposited between and carried upwardly by and btween said vertical flights, and supports on opposite sides of said unit spacing and connecting said sets of the upper and lower rollers thereof.

7. A pick up unit for gatherer of the character described, said pick up unit comprising a forward set of transversely aligned upper and lower substantially horizontal rollers, a rearward set of transversely aligned upper and lower substantially horizontal rollers, means connecting the upper rollers of the sets for rotation in opposite directions, a first compressible endless belt trained over the upper and lower rollers of the rst set, a second compressible endless belt trained over the upper and lower rollers of the second set, with one vertical flight thereof closely spaced relative to the adajcent vertical flight of the rst belt, the lower end of said iirst belt being arranged to engage the ground in front of said second belt to move the nuts toward and into engagement with the lower end of the second belt whereby the nuts are deposited between and carried upwardly by and between said vertical flights, and supports on opposite sides of said unit spacing and connecting said sets of the upper and lower rollers thereof, and a main frame having ground engaging wheels and means pivoting said supports to said main frame for swinging on a horizontal axis.

8. A pick up unit for gatherer of the character described, said pick up unit comprising a forward set of transversely aligned upper and lower substantially horizontal rollers, a rearward set of transversely aligned upper and lower substantially horizontal rollers, means connecting the upper rollers of the sets for rotation in vopposite directions, a first compressible endless belt trained over the upper and lower rollers of the rst set, a second compressible endless belt trained over the upper and lower rollers of the second set, with one vertical ight thereof closely spaced relative to the adjacent Vertical iiight of the rst belt, the lower end of said rst belt being arranged to engage the ground in frontof said second belt to move the nuts toward and into engagement with the lower end of the second belt whereby the nuts are deposited between and carried upwardly by and between said vertical flights, and supports on opposite sides of said unit spacing and connecting said sets of the upper and lower rollers thereof, and a main frame having ground engaging wheels and means pivoting said supports to said main frame for swinging on a horizontal axis, and motor means on said main frame in driving relation to said belts.

9. A gatherer for nuts or the like lying on the ground, said gatherer comprising a main frame having ground engaging wheels, and a pick up unit connected to the forward part of said main frame, a motor mounted on said main frame in driving relation to some of said wheels, said pick up unit comprising gathering and elevating elements having rotary operating mnbers in driven relation to said motor, said gathering and elevating elements comprising a cooperating pair of compressible rollers, a trough behind these rollers to receive the nuts as they roll from one of these rollers, and a vertical conveyor reaching into said trough for elevating the nuts from said trough.

ROBERT E. MARTIN. 

